Therapeutic Biologic for Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

ABSTRACT

The invention provides, inter alia, conjugates comprising a coagulating agent conjugated to an antibody, where the antibody specifically binds an extracellular domain epitope of a mammalian PLVAP protein. These agents specifically target HCC tumors and treat the HCC. The invention also provides methods of using these conjugates, such as methods of treating HCC by administering the conjugates provided by the invention or compositions provided by the invention, such as pharmaceutical compositions.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/270,430, filed Sep. 20, 2016, which is a Divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/539,577, filed Nov. 12, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No.9,493,552, issued Nov. 15, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/904,951, filed on Nov. 15, 2013. Theentire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein byreference.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL IN ASCII TEXT FILE

This application incorporates by reference the Sequence Listingcontained in the following ASCII text file being submitted concurrentlyherewith:

a) File name: 42611003019_Seq_Listing; created Jul. 11, 2019, 38 KB insize.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Primary liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in men and theseventh in women worldwide. Globally, it is the second leading cause ofcancer death in men and the sixth leading cause of cancer death amongwomen. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 85% of primary livercancer. HCC is endemic in southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Theincidence in western countries has increased in recent years and isexpected to continue to increase. HCC is the fifth and the ninth leadingcause of cancer deaths for men and women in the U.S. The 5 years overallsurvival for HCC is only 15%.

In view of the significant incidence of this disease, and its immensetolls on patients, their support systems and society at large, furtherimprovement in treatment of HCC patients with intermediate and advancestage disease is urgently needed-more specifically, a need exists foragents that can specifically target HCC tumors and, e.g., reduce thevolume of the tumors to treat the HCC and/or eliminate th tumors, aswell as methods of making and using the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides, inter alia, agents that specifically targetvascular endothelial cells of HCC tumors and treat the HCC, along withassociated methods of using these agents. In a first aspect, theinvention provides conjugates comprising a coagulating agent conjugatedto an antibody, where the antibody specifically binds an extracellulardomain epitope of a mammalian PLVAP protein.

In some embodiments, the coagulating agent is a coagulating protein. Inmore particular embodiments, the coagulating protein is a tissue factor.In still more particular embodiments, the tissue factor comprises anamino acid sequence at least about: 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80,85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99%, or more identical to SEQ ID NO: 1; e.g., atleast 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99%, or more identical to SEQ ID NO:1; e.g., at least 95, 96, 97, 98, 99%, or more identical to SEQ ID NO:1.

In a related aspect, the invention provides conjugates comprising atissue factor with an amino acid sequence at least 40, 45, 50, 55, 60,65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99%, or more identical to SEQ IDNO: 1 conjugated, by a peptide bond, to an antibody, wherein theantibody specifically binds an epitope in an extracellular domain of ahuman PLVAP protein.

In any of the preceding aspects and embodiments, the mammalian PLVAPprotein can comprise an amino acid sequence at least 50, 55, 60, 65, 70,75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99%, or more identical to SEQ ID NO: 2;more preferably at least 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99%, or moreidentical to SEQ ID NO: 2; still more preferably at least 95, 96, 97,98, 99%, or more identical to SEQ ID NO: 2.

For any of the preceding aspects and embodiments, the antibody canspecifically bind an epitope selected from PPAGIPVAPSSG (SEQ ID NO: 25)or LAIRNSALDTCIKTKSQPMMPVSRPM (SEQ ID NO: 26). In more particularembodiments, the antibody specifically binds the epitope PPAGIPVAPSSG(SEQ ID NO: 25).

For the conjugates of any of the preceding aspects and embodiments, insome embodiments, the coagulating protein and antibody are chemicallycross-linked. In other embodiments, the coagulating protein and antibodyare linked by a peptide bond.

In the conjugates of any one of the preceding aspects and embodiments,the antibody can be an immunoglobulin comprising a light chain variableregion and a heavy chain variable region. In more particularembodiments, the coagulating protein and antibody are linked by apeptide bond between the carboxy terminus of a protein comprising theheavy chain variable region and the amino terminus of the coagulatingprotein. In other embodiments, the coagulating protein and antibody arelinked by a peptide bond between the carboxy terminus of a proteincomprising the light chain variable region and the amino terminus of thecoagulating protein.

In some embodiments, in the conjugate of any one of the precedingaspects or embodiments, the coagulating protein and antibody are linkedby a peptide bond by a linker peptide. In more particular embodiments,the linker peptide comprises (Gly₄-Ser)_(n), wherein n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,or 6; more preferably wherein n is 3.

In certain embodiments, the conjugate of any one of the precedingaspects or embodiments, the antibody is an immunoglobulin comprising:

-   -   i) a heavy chain variable region comprising the CDRs of the        variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:        3 and a light chain variable region comprising the CDRs of the        variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:        4, optionally wherein the variable light chain and variable        heavy chain have up to 1, 2, 3, or 4 conservative amino acid        substitutions in each CDR; or    -   ii) a heavy chain variable region comprising the CDRs of the        variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:        5 and a light chain variable region comprising the CDRs of the        variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:        6, optionally wherein the variable light chain and variable        heavy chain have up to 1, 2, 3, or 4 conservative amino acid        substitutions in each CDR.

In more particular embodiments, the light chain variable region and/orheavy chain variable region are humanized. In still more particularembodiments, the light chain variable region and heavy chain variableregion are given by:

-   -   i) a heavy chain variable region selected from SEQ ID NO: 7, 8,        9, 10, or 11, more particularly wherein the heavy chain variable        region is SEQ ID NO: 11; and a light chain variable region        selected from SEQ ID NO: 12, 13, or 14, more particularly        wherein the light chain variable region is SEQ ID NO: 13; or    -   ii) a heavy chain variable region selected from SEQ ID NO: 15,        16, 17, 18, or 19, more particularly wherein the heavy chain        variable region is SEQ ID NO: 19; and a light chain variable        region selected from SEQ ID NO: 20, 21, or 22, more particularly        wherein the light chain variable region is SEQ ID NO: 22.

In certain embodiments of any of the preceding aspects and embodiments,the conjugate comprises an amino acid sequence at least 80, 85, 90, 95,96, 97, 98, 99%, or more identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO: 23.

In a related aspect, the invention provides a nucleic acid encoding theconjugate of any one of the preceding aspects and embodiments. In aparticular embodiment, the nucleic acids provided by the invention arecontained in a vector. In a related embodiment, the vector can be in ahost cell, and in certain embodiments, the host cell is a bacteria (suchas, e.g., Escherichia coli). In other embodiments, the host cell is aeukaryotic cell (e.g., a fungus, such as yeast, including budding yeast;an insect cell, such as Sf0, Sf21, or high five cells; or mammaliancells, such as CHO, VERO, or COS cells).

In another related aspect, the invention provides pharmaceuticalcompositions comprising the conjugate of any of the preceding aspectsand embodiments, wherein the composition further comprises a suitablecarrier, excipient, or contrast medium. In more particular embodiments,the composition is in a dosage form suitable for administration to asubject.

In another aspect, the invention provides methods of making theconjugate of any one of the preceding aspects and embodiments byculturing the host cell of any one of the preceding aspects andembodiments under conditions that support the expression of theconjugate by the host and isolating the expressed conjugate.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides methods of: treating atumor with PLVAP-positive vasculature, treating hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), reducing volume of a tumor with PLVAP-positive vasculature, orinducing thrombosis and tumor necrosis of a tumor with PLVAP-positivevasculature, in a mammalian subject in need thereof. In these methods, atherapeutically effective amount of the conjugate of any one of thepreceding aspects and embodiments or a pharmaceutical composition of anyone of the preceding aspects and embodiments are provided (e.g.,administered, by any suitable means) to the subject (e.g., a human).

In some embodiments, the HCC tumor volume is reduced followingthrombosis and tumor necrosis induced by the conjugate.

In certain embodiments, the conjugate is administered intravascularly tothe tumor, e.g., HCC, of the subject. In more particular embodiments,the conjugate is infused directly into one or more tumor-feedingarteries.

In some embodiments, the subject is undergoing concurrent or sequentialtreatment with one or more chemotherapeutic agents, radio-therapy,intratumoral alcohol injection, surgery, cryotherapy, radio frequencyablation, or a combination of one or more of the foregoing. In moreparticular embodiments, the conjugate is administered to the subjecttogether with one or more chemotherapeutic agents. In still moreparticular embodiments, the one or more chemotherapeutic agents comprisea therapeutically effective amount of sorafenib (see, e.g., PubChem216239), bevacizumAb, or other antiangeogenic therapeutic drugs. Incertain embodiments, the conjugate is administered to the subject in apharmaceutical composition further comprising the one or morechemotherapeutic agents.

In some embodiments, the conjugate is administered at a dose of about 5to about 200 μg/cm³ of tumor, more particularly about 10 to about 150μg/cm³ of tumor, and more particularly about 15 to about 100 μg/cm³ oftumor.

In certain embodiments, the conjugate is administered in a single dose.In other embodiments, the conjugate is administered in 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10 doses, or more. In more particular embodiments, the doses areadministered over a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 days; or1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 weeks; or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 months, or more.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This patent or application file contains at least one drawing executedin color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a picture of an electrophoretic gel, which shows SDS-PAGEanalysis of purified GST-tagged human tissue factor protein. Ten percentpolyacrylamide gel was used. Three micrograms of recombinant humantissue factor tagged with GST (GST-hTF) was loaded on the gel.

FIG. 2 is a graph of OD405 nm as a function of protein concentration,illustrating the binding of MECA32 chemically conjugated with humantissue factor (MECA32-hTF) to human PLVAP by enzyme-linked immunoassay.Each well of the assay plate was coated with water soluble extracellulardomain of mouse PLVAP protein. After blocking, the coated wells wereincubated with increasing concentrations of MECA32-hTF. One well wasincubated with human tissue factor (hTF). Binding of MECA32-hTF to PLVAPwas detected with biotinylated anti-hTF antibody from R&D Systems, Inc.(Minneapolis, Minn.) and strepavidin-alkaline phosphotase conjugate fromThermo Scientific, Inc. (Rockford, Ill.). The result showed thatMECA32-hTF bound to mouse PLVAP and carried hTF detectible with anti-hTFantibody. Control soluble hTF without antibody (solid circle) could notbind to PLVAP and be detected.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing construction of MECA32-Fab-TFexpression vectors. Linker sequence (G45)3 shown is the same linkersequence that corresponds to amino acid positions 225-239 of SEQ ID NO:23.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the expression construct for CSRO2-Fab-TF. Linkersequence (G4S)3 corresponds to amino acid positions 225-239 of SEQ IDNO: 23.

FIG. 5 is a picture of an SDS-PAGE of recombinant human PLVAP and mousePLVAP. Recombinant human PLVAP (5 μg) and mouse PLVAP (2.5 μg) wereanalyzed with 12% polyacrylamide gel.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are micrographs illustrating immunohistochemical (IHC)staining of PLVAP expression in vascular endothelial cells of Hep3Btumor xenograft in SCID mouse. MECA32 anti-mouse PLVAP monoclonalantibody (10 μg/ml) was used for IHC staining (panel B). The left panelwas the section of the same block stained with normal rat IgG at thesame concentration as negative control (panel A). The result shows thatvascular endothelial cells in Hep3B tumor xenograft like human HCC werestained positively for PLVAP expression (dark brown precipitates pointedby arrows in panel B). The PLVAP expressed by tumor vascular endothelialcells can therefore be targeted to assess therapeutic effects ofMECA32-TF and MECA32-Fab-TF. The same vessels cannot be stained withcontrol rat IgG (arrows in panel A).

FIG. 7 shows pictures of blood flow in tumors by sonography,illustrating the effect of anti-PLVAP MECA32 monoclonal antibody (mAb)conjugated with recombinant human tissue factor (MECA32-TF) on tumorblood flow. Tumor blood flow was assessed with 3D Power Dopplersonography. Power Doppler was performed 48 hours before and 48 hoursafter the treatment. The result show that blood flow was significantlydiminished in the group treated with 20 μg MECA32-TF (white arrows) butnot in the control group treated with 24 μg MECA32 mAb. Red blood flowsignals were present inside tumors before treatment.

FIG. 8 is a line graph of tumor volume over time, illustrating theeffect of MECA32-TF infusion on tumor growth. The result shown in thisfigure are from the same experiment described in FIG. 7. SCID micebearing Hep3B tumor xenografts were treated by infusion of 20 μgMECA32-TF into a tumor feeding artery. The control group was treatedwith 24 μg MECA32 mAb. Tumor volumes were monitored using 3D sonographybefore and after treatment on day 0. One of the mice in the controlgroup died on day 20 after the initial treatment due to rapidprogressive tumor growth (f). The growth rates of the treatment groupand the control group were compared using linear mixed-effects model andwere significantly different (p=0.0002). The results of this study(FIGS. 7 and 8) demonstrated that anti-PLVAP antibody conjugated withtissue factor was able to block tumor blood flow and effectively inhibittumor growth. Solid circle (●): MECA32 mAb control (n=3); Cross (x):MECA32-TF treatment group (n=3).

FIG. 9 is a picture providing diagrams of the structure of recombinantanti-mouse PLVAP MECA32-Fab-TF and anti-human PLVAP CSRO2-Fab-TFconjugates. The major difference between two anti-PLVAP Fab-TFs is thatthere is a histidine-tag (His-tag) at the C-terminus of kappa lightchain of MECA32-Fab-TF. The histidine-tag was introduced forpurification purposes. CSRO2-Fab-TF does not require histidine-tag forpurification. In both instances, the linker sequence (gly₄ser)₃ isidentical to amino acid positions 225-239 of SEQ ID NO: 23.

FIG. 10 is a line graph of OD405 nm versus concentration of competingantibody, illustrating MECA32-Fab-TF binding to mouse PLVAP bycompetitive enzyme-linked immunoassay. ELISA plate wells were coatedwith recombinant water soluble mouse PLVAP (2.5 μg/ml) overnight. Afterblocking wells with buffer containing bovine serum albumin, increasingconcentrations of rat IgG (0.5 μg/ml to 50 μg/ml), MECA32-Fab-TF (0.5μg/ml to 50 μg/ml) or MECA32 mAb (0.05 μg/ml to 5 μg/ml) were incubatedwith 0.25 μs/ml of biotinylated MECA32 mAb. Binding of biotinylatedMECA32 mAb to PLVAP was measured with streptavidin-alkaline phosphataseconjugate and chromogenic substrate. The results show that both MECA32mAb and MECA32-Fab-TF could compete with biotinylated MECA32 mAb forbinding to mouse PLVAP, but not rat IgG control. As expected MECA32 mAbwas approximately one log more potent than MECA32-Fab-TF for theirbinding to mouse PLVAP, because the binding affinity of MECA32-Fab-TF isone log lower than MECA32 mAb.

FIG. 11 is a set of micrographs illustrating induction of Hep3B tumorxenograft tumor necrosis by MECA32-Fab-TF (3, 6 and 12 μg) and controlMECA32 monoclonal antibody (12 μg). After infusion of MECA32-Fab-TF orMECA32 mAb into tumor feeding artery, tumor xenografts were harvested 72hours after treatment and submitted for histological sections. Themicrographs shown illustrate massive necrosis of tumor (areashighlighted in pink) for all three different doses of MECA32-Fab-TF. Theremaining areas of viable tumor tissue are highlighted in blue. Allthree tumors from the control group were 100% viable as shown at theright column. Areas of necrosis of the treated tumors were calculated byweighing cutouts of whole tumor images and necrotic areas, and wereexpressed in percentage. Tumor boundaries are outlined with red and bluelines. There were three mice in each treated group.

FIG. 12 is a set of micrographs illustrating induction of Hep3B tumorxenograft tumor necrosis by MECA32-Fab-TF (2.5, 5 and 10 μg) and controlMECA32 monoclonal antibody (10 μg). This study was similar to that shownin FIG. 11. The main difference was the doses used to treat Hep3B tumorxenografts. Again, tumors were harvested 72 hours after infusion intotumor feeding arteries and submitted for histology sections. There weretwo mice in each group. Again, the results showed significant tumornecrosis at all three doses after treatment. Necrotic area in eachtreated tumor highlighted in pink was determined in percentage of wholetumor section as described in FIG. 11. Tumor boundary is outlined withred and blue lines. Areas of square were magnified (40× and 100×) andshown on the right to demonstrate residual viable tumor cells (arrows).Percentage shown in each tumor is the relative necrotic area to totaltumor cross section.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are sets of micrographs illustrating changes of tumorhistology at 2, 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours after infusion of 10 μgMECA32-Fab-TF. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. InFIG. 13A, appearance of fibrin thrombi (arrows) in blood vessels wasnoticed at 2 hours after infusion. The number of blood vesselscontaining fibrin thrombi became more prominent thereafter (arrows). Nofibrin thrombi were observed in tumor blood vessels before treatment (0hour). Tumor tissue became completely necrotic at 48 and 72 hours.Photomicrographs were taken at 100× magnification. In FIG. 13B, tumorcells show slight separation with increased clear space between eachother at 4 hours after treatment. This change became more prominent at24 hours. Frank necrosis with loss of blue nuclear staining becameapparent 48 hours after treatment, and became more pronounced at 72hours. The photomicrographs were taken at 200× magnification.

FIG. 14 is a set of photographs of tumor blood flow by sonography,illustrating changes of tumor blood flow at different time points afterinfusion of 10 μg MECA32-Fab-TF. Tumor blood flow was assessed by 3Dpower Doppler before and after treatment. There were two mice at eachtime point. Mice were euthanized immediately after post-treatment 3Dpower Doppler study. Sonographs with power Doppler signal (red) from oneof the two mice at each time point before and after treatment were shownhere. Sonographs of tumors collected 48 hours before treatment are shownon the left. After treatments are shown on the right, in which tumorblood flow signals disappeared at 2 hours and persisted up to 72 hoursafter treatment.

FIG. 15 is a line graph of tumor volume over time, illustrating theeffect of intra-arterial infusion of MECA32-Fab-TF on growth of Hep3Btumor xenografts. SCID mice bearing Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinomaxenografts were treated with single infusion of 10 control MECA32monoclonal antibody (mAb) and 5 or 10 μg MECA32-Fab-TF on day 0. Tumorvolumes were measured using 3D sonography −2, 9, and 24 days fromtreatment on day 0. The average initial tumor volumes measured on day −2for MECA32 mAb control group and two MECA32-Fab-TF treatment groups (10and 5 μg) were 26.8, 29.0 and 23.1 mm³, respectively. The tumor volumeof each group is expressed as mean±SD in mm³. The different growth ratesof the treatment groups and the control group were compared using linearmixed-effects model. P values were 0.0003 and 0.0001 for comparisonsbetween the 5 μg treatment group and the control group, and the 10 μgtreatment group and the control group, respectively.

FIG. 16A shows photographs and weights of the excised Hep3B tumors 25days after initial treatment with MECA32 mAb or MECA32-Fab-TF (panel A).The average tumor weights of each treatment group and the control groups(mean±SEM) are shown in FIG. 16B as bar graphs. Tumor weights of eachMECA32-Fab-TF treatment group were compared with those of the controlgroup by t-test. P values were 0.01 and 0.03 for 10 μg and 5 μgMECA32-Fab-TF treatment groups, respectively.

FIG. 17 is a line graph of tumor volume over time, illustrating theeffect of systemic administration of MECA-32-Fab-TF on growth of Hep3Btumor xenografts. Mice were treated with systemic administration ofMECA32-Fab-TF for treatment or phosphate buffered saline for controlthrough a tail vein. Tumor growth was monitored by measurement of threeperpendicular dimensions with a caliper before and after treatment onday 0. The final tumor volumes of all three groups were compared byANOVA. The result showed no significant difference among all threegroups with p value of 0.96. The average tumor volumes 4261.1003-019(mean±SEM) of these three groups were 1844±840 mm³ (control), 1867±602mm³ (20 MECA32-Fab-TF) and 1617±559 mm³ (10 μg MECA32-Fab-TF).

FIG. 18 is a set of micrographs, illustrating immunohistochemicalstaining of sections from three different cases of human hepatocellularcarcinomas (HCC) and adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues withbiotinylated CSRO2-Fab-TF. All blood vessels in three HCC sections shownon left column were stained positively (arrows) for PLVAP with browncolor precipitate in vascular endothelial cells. In contrast,endothelial cells lining liver sinusoid, portal vein and hepatic veins(diamonds) showed negative staining without detectible PLVAP expression.

FIG. 19 is an annotated sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein theextracellular region of the complete NP_112600.1 (hPLVAP) is underlined.

FIG. 20 is an annotated sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3>KFCC-GY4_VH_domain_4,wherein the CDRs are underlined.

FIG. 21 is an annotated sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4>KFCC-GY4_VL_domain_9,wherein the CDRs are underlined.

FIG. 22 is an annotated sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5>KFCC-GY5_VH_14, whereinthe CDRs are underlined.

FIG. 23 is an annotated sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6>KFCC-GY5_VL_19, whereinthe CDRs are underlined.

FIG. 24 is an annotated sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, the recombinantCSR02-Fd-TF insert, wherein the VH domain of Fd (1-114) is underlined,the CH1 domain of Fd (115-216) is bolded, the hinge (217-225) isdouble-underlined, the linker (226-239) is represented by lowercaseletters, and the extracellular domain of human tissue factor (240-458)is italicized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A description of example embodiments of the invention follows.Definitions of certain terms will be adhered to throughout theapplication.

Conjugates and Compositions Provided by the Invention

The invention provides conjugates comprising a coagulating agentconjugated to an antibody, where the antibody specifically binds anextracellular domain epitope of a mammalian PLVAP protein. Suchconjugates are referred to as “conjugate(s) provided by the invention,”“conjugate(s) of the invention,” and the like, while compositionscontaining them, such as pharmaceutical compositions, are known as“composition(s) provided by the invention” and the like. The applicationmay also refer to “conjugates(s) and composition(s) provided by theinvention” to describe “conjugate(s) provided by the invention” and“composition(s) provided by the invention.”

A “coagulating agent” promotes the formation of a thrombus in vivo inthe circulatory system of a mammal, i.e., in the presence of afunctional coagulation cascade and platelet activation pathway. Apeptide “coagulating agent” is a “coagulating protein.” Exemplaryelements of the coagulation cascade include, e.g., Tissue factor,Hageman factor (human GeneID No. 2161), plasma thromboplastin (humanGeneID No. 2160), thrombin (human GeneID No. 2147), Christmas factor(human GeneID No. 2158), stable factor VII (human GeneID No. 2155), andfibrin stabilizing factor (human GeneID Nos. 2162, 2165); see also humanGeneID Nos. 2156, 2157, and 2159. Exemplary elements of the plateletactivation pathway include, e.g., ADP, serotonin, platelet-activatingfactor (PAF; human GeneID No. 7941), Von Willebrand factor (vWF; humanGeneID No. 7450), platelet factor 4 (human GeneID No. 5196), andthromboxane A₂ (TXA₂)). The coagulating agent can be a component orproduct of the coagulation cascade (i.e., a component of the intrinsic,extrinsic, or common pathway) or platelet activation pathway, as well asheterologous proteins, including coagulating venoms, such as convulxin(see, e.g., uniprot IDs 093426 and 093427 for reference proteinsequences for the a and β subunits, respectively) and Russellysin (see,e.g., uniprot Q7LZ61), provided that the agent promotes thrombogenesis,e.g., in the presence of a functional coagulation cascade and plateletactivation pathway.

In particular embodiments, the coagulating agent is a coagulatingprotein. The coagulating protein can be in the conjugate as a monomer,or an oligomer, such as a dimer, or trimer; or a polymer of higher orderstructure. In more particular embodiments, the coagulating protein is atissue factor. A “tissue factor,” also known as factor III,thromboplastin, and CD142, is a receptor for factor VII that promotesthrombogenesis. A tissue factor is exemplified by human GeneID No. 2152,and numerous homologues are known (see HomoloGene ID 1511), includingproteins from human: NP_001984.1, mouse: NP 034301.3, chimp:XP_001156450.1, and dog NP_001019811.1. The human protein includesmotifs such as a pair of fibronectin type 3 domains (c100065) conservedamongst homologues, as well as a pair of WKS motifs (Uniprot P13726.1),and an interferon-binding region (conserved domain CDD:204189). Inparticular embodiments, the tissue factor is a soluble, extracellularportion of tissue factor, exemplified by SEQ ID NO: 1, which is aminoacid 33-251 of NP 001984.1, and corresponding sequences as identifiableby alignments with homologous sequences from other organisms, as well asfunctional variants thereof, including substitutions and truncations(e.g., of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 residues, or more). In someembodiments the tissue factor comprises an amino acid sequence at least40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99%, or moreidentical to SEQ ID NO: 1; more preferably at least 80, 85, 90, 95, 96,97, 98, 99%, or more identical to SEQ ID NO: 1; still more preferably atleast 95, 96, 97, 98, 99%, or more identical to SEQ ID NO: 1. Varianttissue factors, with altered levels of activity, can be used in theinvention as well, either as monomers, or, in some embodiments,multimers, such as dimers. These include the “coagulation-deficient”tissue factor, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,321, incorporated byreference in its entirety, which are 100-fold, or more, less active thannative tissue factor, e.g., with regard to activating Factor VII.

“Antibody” encompasses both immunoglobulins (as well as antigen-bindingfragments thereof) and non-immunoglobulin scaffolds that can be adaptedand used similar to immunoglobulins—so-called antibody-mimetics.Exemplary antibody mimetics include those based on fibronectin 3 domains(Fn3 domains; also known as monobodies; see, e.g., Koide and Koide,Methods Mol. Biol. 352: 95-109) (2007)), Z domains of protein A (alsoknown as affibodies; see, e.g., Nygren FEBS J. 275 (11): 2668-76 (2008),gamma-B crystalline or ubiquitin (afflins; see, e.g., Ebersbach, et al.,J. Mol. Biol. 372 (1): 172-85 (2007)), lipocalins (anticalins; see,e.g., Skerra, FEBS J., 275 (11): 2677-83(2008)); A domains of membranereceptors (avimers; see, e.g., Silverman, et al. Nat. Biotechnol. 23(12): 1556-61 (2005)); ankryn repeats (darpins; see, e.g., Stumpp etal., Drug Discov. Today 13 (15-16): 695-701 (2008)); SH3 domain of Fyn(fynomers; see, e.g., Grabulovski et al., J Biol Chem 282 (5): 3196-3204(2007)), and Kunitz type domains (Kunitz domain peptides; see, e.g.,Nixon and Wood CR, Curr Opin Drug Discov Devel 9 (2): 261-8 (2006)).

Antibodies for use in the conjugates provided by the inventionspecifically bind an extracellular domain epitope of a mammalian PLVAPprotein. Exemplary extracellular domain epitopes of a mammalian PLVAPinclude regions corresponding to (e.g., as evaluated by sequencealignments, such as BLASTp, ClustalW, COBALT, et cetera, using defaultparameters) to the extracellular domain of a PLVAP (from about aminoacid 49 and on in SEQ ID NO: 2), or, more particularly, in theC-terminus of PLVAP, such as: from about amino acid 238 and on in SEQ IDNO: 24 (NP_115774.2, the mouse PLVAP reference sequence, e.g., such as apeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of amino acids 238-413 ofSEQ ID NO: 24), or sequences contained in about amino acids 370 to about442 of SEQ ID NO: 2, (the human PLVAP reference sequence, NP_112600.1),such as amino acids 378 to 404 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or amino acids 431 to 442of SEQ ID NO: 2. In particular embodiments, the antibodies for use inthe conjugates provided by the invention specifically bind to anepiotope in amino acids 378 to 404 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or amino acids 431 to442 of SEQ ID NO: 2; and/or a corresponding primate homologue of eitherof these, such as corresponding sequences from Macaca fascicularis(XP_005588437.1) and Macaca mulatta (AFH29537.1).

In particular embodiments, the antibody is an immunoglobulin.“Immunoglobulin” refers to both full-length immunoglobulins, as well asantigen-binding fragments of immunoglobulins, such as Fab, F(ab′)2, Fv,scFv, Fd, dAb, and other immunoglobulin fragments that retainantigen-binding function. Immunoglobulins will have at least 3 CDRs(complementarity determining regions) in their antigen-binding domain,and, in more particular embodiments, 4, 5, or 6 CDRS, and still moreparticularly, 6 CDRs in an antigen-binding domain. Immunoglobulins foruse in the invention include, for example, human, orangutan, mouse, rat,goat, sheep, rabbit and chicken antibodies. Immunoglobulins may bepolyclonal, monoclonal, monospecific, polyspecific, non-specific,humanized, camelized, single-chain, chimeric, synthetic, recombinant,hybrid, mutated, or CDR-grafted. Particular immunoglobulins for use inthe invention include those with the CDRs of the antibodies produced bymurine hybridoma KFCC-GY4 (ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-9963) ormurine hybridoma KFCC-GY5 (ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-9964), orconservative substitutions thereof, e.g., in particular embodiments,with up to about: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,17, or 18 conservative amino acid substitutions (more particularly 1, 2,3, 4, 5, or more substitutions) in the antigen-binding domain, e.g., upto about: 1, 2, 3, or 4 conservative substitutions in each CDR; moreparticularly up to 1 or 2 conservative substitutions in each CDR. Incertain embodiments, the immunoglobulin comprises humanized heavy andlight variable domains. The KFCC-GY4 and KFCC-GY5 antibodies, includingthe amino acid sequences of their variable domains and CDRs aredescribed in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2011/0085973(first describing the monoclonal antibodies, which were generated inmouse) and US 2011/0262349 (describing particular chimeric and humanizedvariants), both of which are incorporated by reference in theirentirety. See also SEQ ID NOs: 3-22, providing variable domainsequences, and identified CDRs for these antibodies.

“PLVAP,” also known as plasmalemma vesicle associated protein, PV1,FELS, and gp68, is a protein expressed in tumor vasculature, such as HCCtumor vasculature, and is described in human GeneID No. 83483. PLVAPshave been identified in several organisms (see HomoloGene ID 10578),such as: human (NP_112600.1, see also SEQ ID NO: 2), chimp(XP_512490.3), mouse (NP_115774.2), and dog (XP_541953.3) and comprise aPV-1 domain (pfam06637). Antibodies that specifically bind a PLVAP, suchas a mammalian PLVAP, in some embodiments, bind an extra cellular domainof PLVAP, which corresponds to approximately amino acids 49-442 or51-442 of SEQ ID NO: 2. In particular embodiments, the mammalian PLVAPcomprises an amino acid sequence at least 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80,85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99%, or more identical to SEQ ID NO: 2 (or anextracellular domain thereof); more preferably at least 80, 85, 90, 95,96, 97, 98, 99%, or more identical to SEQ ID NO: 2 (or an extracellulardomain thereof); still more preferably at least 95, 96, 97, 98, 99%, ormore identical to SEQ ID NO: 2 (or an extracellular domain thereof). Insome embodiments, the PLVAP protein includes substitutions (e.g., of 1,2, 3, 4, 5, residues or more) and/or truncations (e.g., of 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 residues, or more), relative to SEQ ID NO: 2, or anextracellular domain thereof.

A linker peptide for use consonant with the invention can couple theantibody and coagulating agent, e.g., coagulating protein, by a peptidebond—e.g., the antibody (e.g., one of the variable domains of animmunoglobulin) and coagulating protein can be expressed as a singlepolypeptide chain. The linker peptide can vary in length from, e.g.,about: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 aminoacids, or more, e.g., about: 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, or 300 amino acids.In some embodiments, the linker comprises a hinge region, analogous tothe cysteine-rich and proline-rich domains found in naturally-occurringimmunoglobulins, and optionally including a further linker peptide, suchas (Gly₄-Ser)₃, to space the antibody (e.g., immunoglobulin) andcoagulating agent (e.g., coagulating protein).

Conjugates provided by the invention can optionally comprise a label,such as a detectable label, such as a fluorescent, enzymatic, or radiolabel. In certain embodiments, the conjugate provided by the inventionis biotinylated.

In a related aspect the invention provides nucleic acids encoding theconjugates provided by the invention, vectors containing the nucleicacids, and host cells containing the nucleic acids and vectors.Exemplary nucleic acids include those encoding proteins at least 80, 85,90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99%, or more identical to a conjugate provided bythe invention, including, in particular embodiments, the conjugatehaving the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23. In other embodiments,the nucleic acid can hybridize under highly stringent hybridizationconditions to a nucleic acid encoding a conjugate provided by theinvention. “Highly stringent hybridization” conditions are: at leastabout 6×SSC and 1% SDS at 65° C., with a first wash for 10 minutes atabout 42° C. with about 20% (v/v) formamide in 0.1×SSC, with asubsequent wash with 0.2×SSC and 0.1% SDS at 65° C. In particularembodiments, a nucleic acid provided by the invention can be codonmodified, e.g., for the particular host cell used for production of theconjugate. Vectors encoding a nucleic acid provided by the invention cancontain additional sequences required for, e.g., expression of aconjugate provided by the invention (such as regulatory sequences,promoters, and enhancers) as well as certain suitable ancillarysequences, such as one or more replication origins, one or moreselectable markers, and integration sequences (e.g., for integrationinto a host genome, either by random integration, transposable elements,or site specific integration, e.g., by homologous recombination, such asby targeted nucleases).

In related aspects, the invention provides methods of making theconjugates provided by the invention, e.g., by culturing a host cellcontaining a nucleic acid provided by the invention under conditionsthat support the expression of the conjugate by the host (e.g., if apromoter is inducible, by adding the inducing agent, et cetera), andthen isolating the expressed conjugate. Suitable hosts include bacteria(e.g., Escherichia coli) as well as eukaryotic cells, such as a fungus,such as yeast, including budding yeast; an insect cell, such as Sf0,Sf21, or high five cells; or mammalian cells, such as CHO, VERO, or COScells, or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

The conjugates provided by the invention can usefully be formulated incompositions, such as pharmaceutical compositions—e.g., where aconjugate provided by the invention is compounded with a suitablecarrier or excipient. Any suitable pharmaceutical carrier can be used inthe invention. In particular embodiments, the carrier will promote thestability of the conjugate, e.g., when lyophilized for storage ortransportation, and support the stability of the conjugates provided bythe invention when in a solution, such as an aqueous solution afterreconstitution, consistent with best pharmaceutical practices.Pharmaceutical compositions can include one or more of: a buffer (suchas a histidine, phosphate, or succinate buffer), a bulking or cakingagent (such as glycine or sorbitol, or a sugar, such as sucrose,dextrose, lactose, or fructose), a tonicity modifier (such as aninorganic salt, such as sodium chloride, potassium phosphate, or sodiumphosphate), a preservative, wetting agents, emulsifiers, et cetera.

In particular embodiments, the conjugates provided by the invention areformulated in a pharmaceutical composition suitable for directadministration to HCC tumor vasculature, e.g., through transvascularadministration, such as transarterial administration. In particularembodiments, the conjugates provided by the invention can be formulatedin a lipidol oil. In other embodiments, the conjugates provided by theinvention can be formulated with microparticles with an average diameterof between about 45 μm and about 90 μm, such as IVALON® embolicparticles. Injection with presence of such excipients may increase theavailability of the conjugates provided by the invention, whenadministered to the treated tumors, e.g., by inducing stasis of bloodwithin tumor blood vessels after injection.

In some embodiments, the compositions provided by the invention caninclude a compatible water-soluble contrast medium (for radiographic,MM, or ultrasound applications) to, for example, allow assessment of thedistribution of the conjugate provided by the invention in the treatedtumors by fluoroscopy and/or to assess the completeness of a tumorexposed to the conjugates provided by the invention.

The pharmaceutical compositions provided by the invention can beprepared in dosage form(s) for distribution and administration to asubject in need thereof (consonant with the methods provided by theinvention), including kits of multiple dosage forms, which can containone or more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients of thepharmaceutical compositions of the invention. Optionally associated withsuch container(s) can be a notice in the form prescribed by agovernmental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale ofpharmaceuticals or biological products, that notice reflects approval bythe agency of manufacture, use of sale for human administration. Thepack or kit can be labeled with information regarding mode ofadministration, sequence of drug administration (e.g., separately,sequentially or concurrently in the case of multi-agent kits), or thelike. The pack or kit may also include means for reminding the patientto take the therapy. The pack or kit can be a single unit dosage of thecombination therapy or it can be a plurality of unit dosages. Inparticular, the compound(s) can be separated, mixed together in anycombination, present in a single form, e.g., vial or tablet. For thepurpose of this invention, unit dosage is intended to mean a dosage thatis dependent on the individual pharmacodynamics of each compound andadministered in FDA approved dosages in standard time courses.

The conjugates provided by the invention, the pharmaceuticalcompositions provided by the invention, and kits provided by theinvention containing them therefore are useful in methods of treating asubject with a tumor with PLVAP-positive vasculature, such as HCC, aswell as methods of visualizing a tumor with PLVAP-positive vasculature.

Treatment Methods

The conjugates and compositions provided by the invention can be used inmethods of, for example: treating a tumor with PLVAP-positivevasculature (such as HCC or glioblastoma), treating hepatocellularcarcinoma (HCC), reducing tumor volume of a tumor with PLVAP-positivevasculature, or inducing thrombosis and tumor necrosis of a tumor withPLVAP-positive vasculature, in a mammalian subject in need thereof.These methods comprise administering a therapeutically effective amountof the conjugates provided by the invention or compositions provided bythe invention to the subject.

A “subject” refers to a mammal, more particularly, a human patient (maleor female), and in more particular embodiments, a human patient withHCC, glioblastoma, or any tumor with PLVAP-positive vasculature. Whilesubjects may be of any stage of life and any age, e.g., neonate, infant,toddler, child, young adult, adult, or geriatric; in particularembodiments the subject is an adult, e.g., a human adult, i.e., about 18years old, or older, e.g., about: 18-70, 20-60, 25-55, 25-50, 30-50,25-65 years old, as well as greater than about: 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80or 90 years old. In more particular embodiments, the subject is 60 yearsold, or older, such as, more particularly, 65 years old, or older. Instill more particular embodiments, the subject is between about 70 andabout 79 years old.

As used herein, the terms “treat,” “treating,” or “treatment” mean tocounteract a medical condition (e.g., HCC or a tumor with PLVAP-positivevasculature) so that the medical condition is improved according to aclinically-acceptable standard. For example, an improvement in HCCincludes reduced tumor volume, reduced tumor blood flow, tumor necrosisand/or apoptosis, normalized hepatic function, et cetera.

A “therapeutically effective amount” is an amount sufficient to achievethe desired therapeutic or prophylactic effect under the conditions ofadministration, such as an amount sufficient to treat HCC. Theeffectiveness of a therapy can be determined by one skilled in the artusing standard measures and routine methods. In particular embodiments,the conjugate is administered at a dose of about 5 to about 200 μg/cm³of tumor, more particularly about 10 to about 150 μg/cm³ of tumor, andmore particularly about 15 to about 100 μg/cm³ of tumor. Dosages foundto be effective in one organism, such as the mouse examples providedherein, can be converted for use in another organism, such as humans,using known methodologies. See, e.g., Reagan-Shaw et al., FASEB J.22:659-61 (2008); Schein et al., Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 11: 3-40 (1970);and Freireich et al., Cancer Chemother. Reports 50(4):219-244 (1966).For example, human equivalent dosing (HED) in mg/kg based on animaldosing can be given by the following equation: HED (mg/kg)=animal dose(mg/kg)×(Km^(animal)/Km^(human)), where Km=weight/surface area (kg/m²).Exemplary conversion factors based on the above equation are shown inTable A.

TABLE A From: Mouse Rat Monkey Dog Human To: (20 g) (150 g) (3.5 kg) (8kg) (60 kg) Mouse 1 0.5 0.25 0.17 0.08 Rat 2 1 0.5 0.25 0.14 Monkey 4 21 0.6 0.33 Dog 6 4 1.7 1 0.5 Human 12 7 3 2 1

The conjugates provided by the invention and compositions provided bythe invention can be provided (e.g., administered) to the subject by anysuitable means, including, in particular embodiments, intravascularly tothe tumor of the subject, e.g., the conjugate is infused directly intoone or more tumor-feeding vessels of the HCC.

Subjects treated by the methods provided by the invention may beundergoing concurrent or sequential treatment with: one or morechemotherapeutic agents, radio-therapy, intratumoral alcohol injection,surgery, cryotherapy, radio frequency ablation, or a combination of oneor more of the foregoing. In certain embodiments, the one or morechemotherapeutic agents include a therapeutically effective amount ofsorafenib (see, e.g., PubChem 216239), bevacizumAb, or otherantiangeogenic therapeutic drugs. For combination methods, the conjugateprovided by the invention (or composition provided by the invention) canbe administered concurrently (either in a single composition or inseparate compositions) or sequentially (either before or after the othertreatment).

Where the method employs a composition provided by the invention thatincludes a contrast agent, the methods provided by the invention can, insome embodiments, include the step of visualizing the tumor (e.g., HCCor glioblastoma) using the contrasting agent, e.g., by x-ray (includingCAT scan), MM, or ultrasound.

Subjects can be administered the conjugates or compositions provided bythe invention in a single dose or, in other embodiments, in multipledoses, e.g., in 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 doses, or more. Whenadministered multiple doses, the doses can be administered over a periodof 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 days; or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 weeks;or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 months.

High risk groups for developing HCC can include subjects that: areHBV-positive; are HCV-positive; have impaired liver function; have livercirrhosis; have mutations in one or more of TP53 (OMIM 191170), MET(OMIM 164860), CTNNB1 (OMIM 116806), CASP8 (OMIM 601763), PIK3CA (OMIM171834), AXIN1 (OMIM 603816), PDGFRL (OMIM 604584), and APC (OMIM611731); alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (OMIM 613490); hemochromatosis(OMIM 235200); tyrosinemia (OMIM 276700); and combinations of theforegoing. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the methods provided bythe invention entail the step of providing a subject with (or suspectedof having) HCC, who has one or more of these mutations, e.g., thesubject is identified as having one of the mutations (or any mutationthat is associated with increased pathogenicity of the HCC) beforeadministration of the conjugate provided by the invention.

The conjugates provided by the invention and compositions provided bythe invention can be administered to the subject (such as a human) byany suitable route and by any suitable means. For example, the conjugateor composition can be administered intravascularly to the HCC of thesubject, e.g., by infusion directly into one or more tumor-feedingvessels, such as a hepatic artery or a femoral artery or through thehepatic portal vein. The conjugates provided by the invention andcompositions provided by the invention can be administered to thesubject alone or together (either in the same composition, or concurrentor sequential administration) with one or more chemotherapeutic agents,such as one or more of sorafenib (see, e.g., PubChem 216239),bevacizumAb, or other antiangeogenic therapeutic drugs.

In any of the methods provided by the invention the conjugate isadministered at a dose of about 5 μg/cm³ of tumor to about 200 μg/cm³ oftumor, more particularly about 10 to about 150 μg/cm³ of tumor, and moreparticularly about 15 to about 100 μg/cm³ of tumor. The conjugatesprovided by the invention or compositions provided by the invention canbe administered in a single dose, or in multiple doses, such as 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 doses, or more. Multiple does can be over any usefulperiod, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 days; or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,or 6 weeks; or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 months.

EXEMPLIFICATION

PLVAP gene expression is restricted to vascular endothelial cells of HCCand not in non-tumorous liver tissue. PLVAP protein is a structuralprotein of vascular endothelia fenestrae and caveolae. It is not knownto be involved in signaling. Anti-PLVAP antibody treatment was recentlyreported to affect leukocyte trafficking crossing vascular endothelialcells in mice.

In this patent application, we describe the development of a noveltherapeutic biologic for treatment of HCC by exploiting differentialexpression of PLVAP in vascular endothelial cells of HCC not innon-tumorous liver tissue. For our approach, we develop this therapeuticbiologic by co-expressing human tissue factor protein on anti-PLVAPantibody or its Fab fragment. Human tissue factor is a potent trigger ofblood coagulation. Infusion of such a therapeutic agent developed by usinto blood vessels of HCC can lead to its binding to tumor vascularendothelial cells and trigger blood clot formation in all blood vesselsof HCC. The thrombosis of HCC tumor blood vessels leads to deprivationof tumor blood supply and ischemic necrosis. Using a HCC xenograft modelin SCID mice, we showed that infusion into tumor feeding artery of thedeveloped anti-PLVAP monoclonal antibody, or its Fab fragment, withhuman tissue factor successfully induced massive ischemic necrosis ofthe tumor xenografts and suppressed tumor growth. Systemicadministration of such a therapeutic agent through a peripheral vein wasineffective. Thus, infusion of this novel agent into tumor feedingarteries is preferred to achieve therapeutic effect.

Materials and Methods

Rat Anti-Mouse PLVAP MECA32 Monoclonal Antibody (mAb)

MECA 32 hybridoma was obtained from Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bankat University of Iowa (Iowacity, Iowa). The hybridoma cells werecultured in RPMI medium containing 10% low-IgG fetal bovine serum, 1%GLUTA-Max (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif.), 1%Antibiotics-antimycotics (Life Technologies) and 1% HEPES (LifeTechnologies). Rat anti-mouse PLVAP MECA32 mAb was purified from thickculture supernatant of MECA 32 hybridoma cells using HiTrap Protein Gcolumn from GE Healthcare Life Sciences according to the instruction ofthe manufacturer. The purified antibody was dialyzed into phosphatebuffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4. The concentration of antibody wasdetermined by absorbance at 280 nm wave length using extinctioncoefficient of 1.37 for 1 mg/ml.

Production of Water-Soluble Extracellular Domain of Human Tissue FactorProtein

To produce recombinant water soluble extracellular portion of humantissue factor protein (hTF), a PCR fragment for the extracellular domainof human tissue factor cDNA (amino acid residues 33 to 251) was preparedfrom a full length cDNA clone of human tissue factor (NM001993.2)(OriGene Corp., Rockville, Md.). Primers used for PCR containedrestriction sequences for BamH1 and SalI at the 5′ end of both forwardand backward primers, respectively. The amplified cDNA fragment wasinserted into pGEX®-6P-1 plasmid (GE Heathcare Life Sciences) and taggedwith glutathione transferase (GST). The expression construct describedabove was verified by DNA sequencing and transformed into Escherichiacoli strain SHuffle™ T7 Express (New England Biolabs, Inc. Ipswich,Mass.) for production of hTF. The E. coli transformants were plated onselective medium. Later, a colony of 1-2 mm was selected randomly andinoculated into 4 ml of 2×YT medium containing 100 m/ml ampicillin at30° C. and incubated in a 230 rpm incubator shaker overnight. Thefollowing day, the overnight culture was inoculated into 400 ml of 2×YTmedium containing 100 m/ml ampicillin and continued to grow at 30° C. ina 230 rpm incubator shaker overnight. When the absorbance at 600 nmreached about 0.6˜0.8, Isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) wasadded to a final concentration of 0.4 mM to induce protein production.Shaking was continued at 30° C. for about 20 hours. Following theinduction with IPTG, the cells were harvested by centrifugation(10,000×g; 20 min) and subjected to lysis in 1×PBS with 0.2% Tween 80containing lysozyme and Benzonase Nuclease (Novagen) at room temperaturefor 2 hours. Cell lysate was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 30 minutes at4° C. Supernatant was collected and filtered as soluble fraction.

The recombinant human tissue factor tagged with GST (GST-hTF) waspurified from GSTrap FF column (GE Healthcare Life Sciences, Piscataway,N.J.) according to the instruction of the manufacturer. The elutedfractions containing the GST-hTF were identified with SDS-polyacrylamidegel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), pooled and dialyzed into PBS. Theconcentration of the purified protein was determined using Bradfordprotein assay (Bio-Rad laboratories, Hercules, Calif.) and bovine serumalbumin as standard. The purified GST-hTF showed a protein band withexpected molecular weight of 50 kDa in SDS-PAGE gel (10% polyacrylamid)(FIG. 1). The tissue factor activity of the purified protein was assayedagainst a commercial human tissue factor using a chromogenic assay. Thepurified GST-hTF was assayed against a commercial hTF standard and hadhTF activity of 3 ug per microgram protein. The procedure of this hTFactivity assay is detailed in a later section.

Conjugation of Recombinant GST-hTF to Rat Anti-Mouse PLVAP MECA32Monoclonal Antibody

First, the purified MECA32 mAb was dialyzed in 0.1 M IVIES buffercontaining 0.5M NaCl at pH 6.0. IVIES is 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonicacid. The antibody was adjusted to 1 mg/ml using the same IVIES buffer.To 1 ml of MECA32 mAb, 1.2 mg EDC(1-Ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride) and 3.3 mgof sulfo-NHS (N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide) were added. After gentlevortexing to dissolve the added reagents, the mixture was incubated atroom temperature for one hour. Zeba desalting column pre-equilibratedwith PBS coupling buffer was used to recover activated MECA32 mAb. PBScoupling buffer consisted 140 mM NaCl, 10 mM sodium phosphate and 3 mMKCl at pH 7.4-7.5. Next, the equal number of GST-hTF (0.33 mg in 0.66ml) was added to the activated MECA32-mAb. The mixture was incubated ona rotary mixer for 3 hours at room temperature. The reaction was thenquenched by addition of hydroxylamine to a final concentration of 10 mM.The antibody conjugated with human tissue factor protein was dialyzedagainst 1× phosphate buffered saline extensively to remove all smallorganic chemicals. The concentration of antibody was determined byabsorbance at 280 nm. The extinction coefficient of 1.37 for 1 mg/ml wasused for determination of antibody concentration. The antibodyconjugated with human tissue factor was measured for the tissue factoractivity using a chromogenic assay. The recombinant human tissue factorpurchased from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, Minn.) was used as a standardfor the assay. The purified TF conjugate of MECA32 monoclonal antibody(MECA32-TF) was assayed for binding to mouse PLVAP and the presence ofhuman tissue factor on the antibody bound to mouse PLVAP (FIG. 2).

Development of a Plasmid Construct to Express Fab Fragment of MECA32Anti-Mouse PLVAP Monoclonal Antibody Co-Expressing hTF (MECA32-Fab-TF)

Preparation of a plasmid construct to produce MECA32-Fab-TF wasaccomplished in four steps. The first step was to prepare cDNAs ofvariable domain of MECA32 mAb light chain (VL) and variable domain ofMECA32 mAb heavy chain (VH), and determine their DNA sequences forpreparation of primers to be used in the second step. The second stepwas to prepare full length cDNA for kappa light chain of MECA32 mAb witha His-tag at the carboxyl terminus, and inserted into pET26b plasmidvector. The third step was to prepare a cDNA of VH1 and CH1 domains (Fd)plus hinge region of MECA32 mAb heavy chain with a linker sequence atthe 3′ end, and cDNA for hTF and a linker sequence at the 5′ end. Theoverlapping PCR was then used to stitch two cDNAs together. This cDNA ofMECA32-Fd-hinge-linker-TF was inserted into pET26b plasmid vector. Thefourth step was to construct a bicistronic plasmid vector from theplasmids prepared from the second and the third steps. These four stepsare described in more details below and summarized in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

First Step: Cloning cDNAs of VL Domain of MECA32 mAb Kappa Light Chainand VII Domain of MECA32 mAb Heavy Chain for Nucleic Acid Sequencing

The cDNAs coding variable domains of MECA32 mAb light chain (VL) andheavy chain (VH) were prepared using FirstChoice RLM-RACE kit (Ambion,Inc., Austin, Tex.) according to manufacturer's instruction. Briefly,total RNA isolated from MECA32 hybridoma was used as template to amplifyvariable domain of light (VL) and heavy chains (VH) by reversetranscription PCR using primers complementary to the nucleotidesequences of the constant domain of the kappa light chain next to VLdomain (5′ TGTCCTGATCAGTAACACTGTCC3′) (SEQ ID NO: 27) and CH1 domain ofthe heavy chain next to VH domain (5′TGAGAGTGTAGAGTCCAGACTGCAGG3′) (SEQID NO: 28), separately.

PCR products were analyzed and isolated from the 1.5 agarose gel usingthe Qiaquick gel extraction kit (Qiagen, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada).The purified PCR fragments were inserted into the plasmid vector,pGEM-T-easy (Promega, Madison, Wis., USA) and transformed intoEscherichia coli strain YE707-J (Yeastern Biotech, Taipei, Taiwan).Plasmids containing inserts of the VL and the VH domains were preparedfrom the transformed E. coli and used for determination of DNA sequencesof the VL and VH domains. The sequences then were used to design primersto be used in the second and the third steps.

Second Step: Preparation of a cDNA Consisting of MECA32 mAb Kappa LightChain and his-Tag, and Inserting it into pET-26b Plasmid Vector

The sequence of the VL chain from the first step was used to designappropriate primer for obtaining full length kappa light chain cDNAsequence of MECA32 antibody. First, full-length kappa chain cDNA ofMECA32 mAb was generated by RT-PCR from total RNA of MECA32 hybridomacells using primers listed below:

Forward primer: (SEQ ID NO: 29) 5′GATCCTGACATCCAGATGACCCAGACTCC3′ andReverse primer: (SEQ ID NO: 30) 5′CACACTCATTCCTGTTGAAGCTCTTG3′.

The purified PCR fragment with BamHI and Sal I restriction sites wasinserted into the plasmid vector pET26b with a (His)6-tag at thecarboxyl terminus of the CK domain and this plasmid was designated aspET26b-M32K (FIG. 3A).

Third Step: Preparation of MECA32-Fd-Hinge-Linker-TF cDNA and Insertinginto pET26b Plasmid Vector

We first prepared a cDNA consisting of MECA32 mAb Fd, hinge region plusand linker sequence by PCR using cDNA template from MECA32 hybridomacells and the following primer pair:

Forward primer: (SEQ ID NO: 31) 5′ GACATCCAGATGACCCAGACTCC3′ andHinge linker Reverse primer: (SEQ ID NO: 32)5′AGAGCCACCTCCGCCTGAACCGCCTCCACCTGTACATCCACAAGGATT GCATTCC3′.

Next, we prepared a cDNA consisting of (Gly4Ser)3 linker sequence andextracellular domain of human tissue factor (AA. 33-251) (hTF) by PCRusing cloned hTF cDNA template and the following primer pair:

hTF linker forward primer: (SEQ ID NO: 33)5′GGCGGAGGTGGCTCTGGCGGTGGCGGATCGTCAGGCACTACAAATACT GTGG3′ andTF reverse primer: (SEQ ID NO: 34) 5′CAGTGTGAGGTGCAACTGGTGGAG3′.

Two PCR products were stitched by overlapping extension. The final fusedPCR product was inserted into pET-26b vector. This vector was designatedas pET26b-M32-Fd-TF (FIG. 3A).

Fourth Step: Construction of a Biscistronic Plasmid Vector ContainingBoth MECA32 Fd-Hinge-(Gly₄Ser)₃Linker-TF and MECA32 Kappa Light Chainwith a His-Tag

We generated a DNA fragment by PCR using pET26b-M32-Fd-TF as a templateand the following primer pair:

26b-RBS-F: (SEQ ID NO: 35) 5′ACAATTCCCCTCTAGATTTTGTTTAACTTTAAGAAGGAGA 3′ and 26b-Termination-R:(SEQ ID NO: 36) 5′ CAAAATTATTTCTAGATTTCGGGCTTTGTTAGCAGCCGG 3′.

This DNA fragment included a ribosome binding sequence (rbs), VH1 andCH1 of MECA32 mAb heavy chain, hinge region, linker sequence, hTF, and astop codon. This fragment was then inserted into Xba I restriction siteof pET26b-M32K. The sequence of the entire insert was verified by DNAsequencing using the dye-deoxy method. This plasmid construct wasdesignated as pET26b MECA32-Fab-TF (FIG. 3B) and transformed into the E.coli SHuffle T7 Express strain (New England Biolabs Corp.) for proteinexpression. The diagrams summarizing the construction steps of thisbicistronic plasmid expression vector for production of MECA32-Fab-TF isshown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

Production of Fab of MECA32 Anti-Mouse PLVAP Monoclonal AntibodyCo-Expressing Human Tissue Factor (MECA32-Fab-TF)

To produce MECA32-Fab-TF, a colony (1-2 mm) of fresh E. coli culture wasinoculated into 4 ml of 2×YT medium containing 30 μg/ml kanamycin at 30°C., 230 rpm overnight. Next morning, the overnight culture wasinoculated into 400 ml of 2×YT medium containing 30 μg/ml kanamycin andcontinued to grow at 30° C., 250 rpm. When the absorbance at 600 nmreached ˜0.6-0.8, isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) was addedto a final concentration of 0.4 mM for induction of recombinant proteinproduction. Shaking was continued at 30° C. for about 20 h.

The cells were harvested by centrifugation at 10000×g for 20 min at roomtemperature and used to isolate inclusion bodies. The cell paste wassuspended in 4 ml of 10 mM Tris/HCl, pH 7.5, containing 150 mM NaCl, 1mM MgCl2, 0.17 mg/ml PMSF and 2 mg/ml hen's-egg white lysozyme (Sigma).Benzonase (250 units; EM Science) was added and the suspension was mixedgently at room temperature for 1.5 hour then centrifuged at 12000×g for15 min. The pellet was resuspended in 10 mM Tris/HCl, pH 7.5, containing1 mM EDTA and 3% Nonidet P40 (2 ml), sonicated for 1 min at 50% powerand centrifuged at 12000 g for 20 min. The pellet was re-suspended inwater, sonicated for 20-30 seconds at 50% power and centrifuged at12000×g for 20 min. The wash with water was repeated, and the finalpellet, highly enriched for the inclusion bodies, was suspended inbuffer containing 6 M guanidinium chloride, 0.5 M NaCl, 20 mM phosphateand 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, pH 8 by gentle mixing at room temperatureovernight. The solution was held at room temperature overnight thendiluted to a protein concentration of about 1 mg/ml in 6 M urea/50 mMTris/HCl, pH 8 and dialyzed at 4° C. overnight against 10-20 volumes ofthe same buffer. Then, the dialysis was changed to a buffer containing 2M urea, 50 mM Tris/HCl, 300 mM NaCl, 2.5 mM GSH, 0.5 mM GSSG, pH 8(folding buffer). After dialysis for 2 days, the buffer was replacedwith fresh folding buffer and the dialysis was continued for 2 moredays. Next, dialysis buffer was changed to a buffer of 1M urea, 50 mMTris-HCl, 300 mM NaCl pH8 and the dialysis was continued for one moreday. The dialysis was then carried out in the same buffer withsequentially reduced concentrations of urea from 0.8M urea for 6 hours,0.56M urea overnight, and 0.28M urea for 6 hours. Finally, the dialysiswas carried out in folding buffer without urea and continue overnight.The refolded supernatant was loaded onto a nickel nitrilotriacetic acid(Ni-NTA; GE Healthcare) column and eluted with 500 mM immidazol in 50 mMsodium phosphate and 0.3M NaCl at pH7.0. Recombinant MECA32-Fab-TF wasfurther purified by HiLoad 16/60 Superdex 75 prep grade (GE Healthcare)gel filtration column chromatography. Eluates containing targetMECA32-Fab-TF were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and pooled. MECA32-Fab-TF wascharacterized by ELISA to confirm binding to mouse PLVAP. Tissue factorspecific activity of MECA32-Fab-TF was measured using a chromogenic TFassay.

Development of Plasmid Construct to Express Recombinant Fab Fragment ofCSRO2 Anti-Human PLVAP Monoclonal Antibody Co-Expressing Water-SolubleHuman Tissue Factor (CSRO2-Fab-TF)

We also produced recombinant anti-human PLVAP CSRO2-Fab-TF proteinsimilar to MECA32-Fab-TF. This protein was developed based on theanti-human PLVAP mAb CSRO2. The structure of this recombinant proteinwas substantially similar to MECA32-Fab-TF described above, except forthe different Ab domains and absence of His-tag at the carboxyl end ofthe kappa light chain. His-tag was eliminated because his-tag was notrequired for purification of CSRO2-Fab-TF. CSRO2-Fab-TF was purified byusing anti-human kappa light chain KappaSelect affinity columnchromatography (GE Healthcare Life Sciences, Piscataway, N.J.). CSRO2mAb is a humanized monoclonal antibody against human PLVAP.

The procedure used to prepare the plasmid construct for production ofCSRO2-Fab-TF was similar to the making of the plasmid construct forMECA32-Fab-TF with some modification. The first step described earlierfor cloning cDNAs to obtain DNA sequences of 5′-ends of antibody heavychain and light chain was be skipped, because cDNA sequences for CSRO2mAb heavy chain and light chain were already known. Therefore, onlythree steps were required to prepare CSRO2-Fab-TF expression construct.These three steps are described below.

First Step: Insertion of CSRO2 mAb Light Chain cDNA into pET26b PlasmidVector

Total RNA from NS0 cell line producing CSR02 mAb was reverse-transcribedto cDNA using oligo-dT as primer. Kappa light chain cDNA of CSR02 wasgenerated by PCR using the oligo-dT-primed cDNA as template and theprimer pair shown below:

CSR02-VK3F-26b F Nde I forward primer: (SEQ ID NO: 37) 5′TATGGATGTTGTGATGACCCAATCTCCA 3′ Kappa-R-26b-Not I reverse primer:(SEQ ID NO: 38) 5′ GGCCGCTAACACTCTCCCCTGTTG 3′.

The purified PCR DNA fragment for CSRO2mAb light chain was then insertedinto the Nde I and Not I sites of plasmid vector pET26b to generatepET26b-cVK3.

Second Step: Construction of a pET26b Plasmid Vector Inserted with cDNAfor Expression of a Fusion Polypeptide Comprised of VH1, CH1 and HingeRegion of CSRO2 mAb Plus (Gly₄Ser)₃ Linker Sequence and ExtracellularDomain of Human Tissue Factor (AA. 33-251) (hTF)

This plasmid was constructed by PCR using cDNA prepared from NS0 cellline and cloned human tissue factor cDNA as templates. The followingprimer pairs were used for PCR:

I) Primer Pair for VH1-CH1-Hinge Region of CSRO2 mAb Heavy Chain andLinker Sequence:

VH5-pro26b-NdeI-F forward primer: (SEQ ID NO: 39) 5′TATGCAGGTCCAACTGGTGCAGTCTGG 3′ and Hinge linker R: (SEQ ID NO: 40) 5′AGAGCCACCTCCGCCTGAACCGCCTCCACCTGGGCATGATGGGCATG GGGGACC 3′.

II) Primer Pair for Linker Sequence-hTF-Plus Restriction Site forInsertion:

hTF linker F: (SEQ ID NO: 41) 5′GGCGGAGGTGGCTCTGGCGGTGGCGGATCGTCAGGCACTACAAATAC TGTGG 3′ hTF R-Not I:(SEQ ID NO: 42) 5′ GGCCGCTATTCTCTGAATTCCCCTTTCTCCTGG 3′.

The PCR fragments generated from the two PCR reactions described abovewere further fused and amplified by overlapping extension. The fusedcDNA was inserted into pET26b plasmid vector which was designated aspET26b-VH5-Fd-TF.

Third Step: Construction of a Biscistronic Plasmid Vector ContainingcDNAs for Both CSRO2 mAb Fd-Hinge-(Gly4Ser)3Linker-TF and CSRO2 mAbKappa Light Chain

We generated a DNA fragment by PCR using pET-26b-VH5-Fd-TF as templateand the following primer pair:

26b-RBS-F: (SEQ ID NO: 43) 5′ACAATTCCCCTCTAGATTTTGTTTAACTTTAAGAAGGAGA 3′ and 26b-Termination-R:(SEQ ID NO: 44) 5′ CAAAATTATTTCTAGATTTCGGGCTTTGTTAGCAGCCGG 3′.

The amplified DNA fragment included a ribosome binding site (rbs); VH1,CH1 and hinge sequence of CSRO2 heavy chain; linker sequence; solublehuman tissue factor; and a stop codon. This DNA fragment was insertedinto the Xba I site of pET26b-cVK3 vector to derive a new bicistronicplasmid vector designated as pET26b CSR02-Fab-TF (FIG. 4). This plasmidwas used to express both kappa light chain and fusion heavy chain underthe control of a single promoter. The sequence of the entire insert wasverified by DNA sequencing using the dye-deoxy method.

Production of Recombinant Fab Fragment of CSRO2 Anti-Human PLVAPMonoclonal Antibody Co-Expressing Water-Soluble Human Tissue Factor(CSRO2-Fab-TF)

Expression of Recombinant CSR02-Fab-TF Protein.

Transformation of Escherichia coli Shuffle T7 Express (New EnglandBiolabs) was performed by incubating competent cells with pET-26bCSR02-Fab-TF plasmid DNA on ice for 5 min, heating for exactly 30seconds in a 42° C. water bath and followed by placing on ice for 2minutes. Prior to plating on selective medium, the transformants wereincubated at 30° C. while shaking at 250 rpm with SOC medium (0.5% YeastExtract; 2% Tryptone; 10 mM NaCl; 2.5 mM KCl; 10 mM MgCl2; 10 mM MgSO₄;20 mM Glucose) for 60 min. Expression of CSR02-Fab-TF was induced with0.05 mM of isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside for 16 hours at 30° C. or37° C. Following the induction, the bacterial cells were subjected tolysis by in 1×PBS with 0.2% Tween 80 in the presence of lysozyme andBenzonase Nuclease at room temperature for 2 hours. Cell lysate washarvested by centrifuging at 10000 rpm for 30 minutes at 4° C.Supernatant was collected and filtered to isolate the soluble fraction.

Purification of CSR02-Fab-TF by KappaSelect and Capto AdhereMmultimodalColumn Chromatography.

KappaSelect column (1 ml) was equilibrated with phosphate bufferedsaline (PBS), pH 7.4 (0.01M phosphate buffer, 0.0027M KCl, 0.14M NaCl).E. coli cell lysates containing CSR02-Fab-TF was loaded at a flow rate 1ml/min. After application of samples, the column was washed with theequilibration buffer till OD280 dropped to baseline. The rest of boundproteins were eluted with 0.1M glycine buffer, pH 2.7 containing 0.25 Msucrose. The eluate was immediately adjusted to physiological pH byadding 50 μl of 1M Tris-base buffer, pH9.0 per 1 ml eluate.

The eluted CSRO2-Fab-TF from KappaSelect column was further purifiedwith a Capto Adhere column (5 ml) pre-equilibrated with 20 mM Trisbuffer, pH 7.5. The CSR02-Fab-TF sample eluted from KappaSelect columnwas diluted 50 fold with 20 mM Tris buffer, pH 7.5 and followed byloading it onto a Capto Adhere column at a flow rate 1 ml/min. Afterapplication of the sample, the column was washed with equilibrationbuffer until OD280 dropped to baseline. The bound CSRO2-Fab-TF proteinwas then eluted with 20 mM Tris buffer, pH 7.5 containing 200 mM NaCl.

Production of Soluble Recombinant Human and Mouse PLVAP Proteins (hPLVAPand mPLVAP)

Production of (hPLVAP).

Plasmid pGEM®-T Easy-hPLVAP₅₁₋₄₄₂ was generated by inserting a PCRfragment representing the truncated PLVAP (amino acid residues 51 to 442comprising the extracellular domain of mouse PLVAP) into the pGEM®-TEasy Vector (Promega). This PCR fragment was generated from a cDNA cloneof human PLVAP (NM_031310) (OriGene, Rockville, Md.) by PCR using thefollowing primer pair:

(SEQ ID NO: 45)

and (SEQ ID NO: 46)

For construction of plasmid pET-15b-hPLVAP₅₁₋₄₄₂ to produce recombinantPLVAP protein, a cDNA fragment encoding the amino acid residues 51 to442 of PLVAP with NdeI/Bam HI recognition sequences (boxed sequences) atthe ends was excised from pGEM®-T Easy-hPLVAP₅₁₋₄₄₂ and inserted intopET-15b (Novagen). The expression construct described above was verifiedby DNA sequencing and transformed to Escherichia coli(Rosetta-gami2(DE3)pLysS) (EMD Millipore Corp.).

A His-tagged hPLVAP fusion proteins was produced and purified asdescribed below. A colony (1-2 mm) of transformed E. coli from freshculture was inoculated into 4 ml of TB medium containing 100 μg/mlampicillin, 34 μg/ml chloramphenical, 12.5 μg/ml tetracycline at 37° C.,230 rpm overnight. The overnight culture was inoculated into 400 ml ofTB medium containing 100 μg/ml ampicillin 34 μg/ml chloramphenical, 12.5μg/ml tetracycline and continued to grow at 37° C., 250 rpm. When theabsorbance at 600 nm reached about 0.6˜0.8, isopropylβ-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) was added to a final concentration of1.66 mM to induce protein production. Shaking was continued at 30° C.for about 20 h. Cells were harvested by centrifugation at 10000 g for 30minutes at 4° C. The cell pellet was re-suspended in 12 mlequilibration-wash buffer (50 mM sodium phosphate, 300 mM NaCl, pH 7, 10mM imidazol) supplemented with 8 M urea and stored at −20° C. for atleast 2 hours. The thawed sample was sonicated for 10 seconds, with a 30second pause between each burst to reduce the viscosity until it becomestranslucent. The cell suspension was centrifuged at 10,000-12,000×g for20 min at 4° C. to pellet any insoluble material. The supernatant fromthe previous step was applied to TALON Resin column (Clontech) which hasbeen equilibrated with 10 column volume of equilibration-wash buffersupplemented with 8 M urea. After washing the column with 10-20 columnvolumes of 1× equilibration-wash Buffer, recombinantpolyhistidine-tagged human PLVAP protein was eluted with 5 columnvolumes of elution buffer (50 mM sodium phosphate, 300 mM NaCl, pH 7,500 mM imidazol) containing 6 M urea. The purified recombinant proteinin the eluate was dialyzed against 1× equilibration/wash buffercontaining 3M urea at 4° C. for at least 4 hours, then buffer waschanged to 1× equilibration-wash buffer containing 1M urea, and dialyzeat 4° C. for at least 4 hours. Protein concentration was determined withBradford dye binding assay (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.). The protein wasthen digested with 1 unit of biotinylated thrombin (Novagen) for each mgof the recombinant PLVAP protein at 23° C. for 16 hours to removepolyhistidine-tag. Biotinylated thrombin was removed from the incubationby solid phase streptavidin-agarose. The resulting recombinant watersoluble human PLVAP (hPLVAP) was dialyzed against 1× equilibration-washbuffer (50 mM sodium phosphate, 300 mM NaCl, pH 7) without urea. Theprotein concentration was determined and the protein was analyzed bySDS-PAGE for purity (FIG. 5).

Production of mPLVAP (Mouse PLVAP).

Plasmid pGEM-T Easy-mPLVAP₄₈₋₄₃₈ was generated by inserting a PCRfragment representing the truncated PLVAP (amino acid residues 48 to 438comprising the extracellular domain of mouse PLVAP) into the pGEM®-TEasy Vector (Promega Corp.). This PCR fragment was prepared from a cDNAclone of mouse PLVAP (Invitrogen, Life Technologies Corp.) by PCR usingthe following primer pair:

mPLVAP CDS NdeI F: (SEQ ID NO: 47) 5′CATATGTATGGCAATGTGCACGCCACC3′ andmPLVAP Stop Xho I R: (SEQ ID NO: 48) 5′CTCGAGATCCACAGGTGGGCGATTCTGGC3′.

Next, a cDNA fragment encoding the amino acid residues 48 to 437 ofPLVAP containing NdeI and XhoI recognition sequences at each end wasexcised from pGEM®-T Easy-mPLVAP₄₈₋₄₃₈ and inserted into pET-15b(Novagen-EMD Millipore, Darmstadt, Germany) for protein expression.After verification by DNA sequencing, this expression construct wastransformed into Escherichia coli (Rosetta-gami2(DE3)pLysS). Expressionof His-tagged fusion mPLVAP protein in Escherichia coliRosetta-gami2(DE3)pLysS was induced with 1 mMisopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside for 16 hours at 30° C. Following theinduction, the bacterial cells were subjected to lysis by sonication inequilibration buffer (50 mM sodium phosphate, 300 mM NaCl, pH 7)supplemented with 8 M urea and separated into soluble and insolublefractions by centrifugation at 15,652×g for 30 minutes at 4° C. Topurify the His-PLVAP₄₈₋₄₃₈ protein, the soluble fraction was loaded ontoa TALON® Metal Affinity Resin (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.) and waseluted with elution buffer (50 mM sodium phosphate, 300 mM NaCl, pH 7,500 mM imidazole). The resulting mouse PLVAP₄₈₋₄₃₈ protein in the eluatewas dialyzed against PBS. SDS-PAGE analysis of die purified His-mPLVAPis shown in FIG. 5.

Studies of CSRO2-Fab-TF and MECA32-Fab-TF Binding to Respective Humanand Mouse PLVAP by ELISA

In order to make sure that the recombinant anti-PLVAP-Fab-TF proteinscan bind to human or mouse PLVAP protein, an ELISA assay was developedand used. First, each well of an ELISA plate was coated with 50 μl of2.5 μg/ml human or mouse recombinant PLVAP protein in PBS-azide (0.02%)overnight at 4° C. Thereafter, the assays were carried out at roomtemperature. After three washes of each well with 150 μl washing buffer(PBS containing 0.2% Tween-20). Each well was blocked with 150 μlblocking buffer (PBS containing 2% BSA and 0.05% Tween-20) for 30minutes. After three washes, 50 μl of anti-human PLVAP CSRO2-Fab-TF oranti-mouse PLVAP MECA32-Fab-TF was added into each well at differentconcentrations in duplicates. All wells were incubated for 45 minutesand washed three times. Wash well was then incubated with 50 μlbiotinylated anti-human TF antibody (R&D Systems Corp.) at 1:500dilutions in the blocking buffer for 45 minutes. After three washes,each well was incubated with 5000× diluted Streptavidin-alkalinephosphatase conjugate for 30 minutes. Each well was then incubated with100 μl alkaline phosphatase substrate for 60 minutes and absorbance ofeach well was measured at 405 nm in a microplate reader.

The assay was also modified into a competitive binding assay. For thecompetitive binding assay, increasing concentrations of anti-PLVAPantibodies or Fab-TF were incubated with an optimal amount ofbiotinylated anti-PLVAP monoclonal antibody to compete for the bindingto PLVAP. After incubation and washing, biotinylated antibody bound toPLVAP was quantified with streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugateand chromogenic substrate.

Chromogenic Assay for Human Tissue Factor Activity

The TF activities of recombinant CSRO2-Fab-TF, MECA32-Fab-TF and MECA32mAb crosslinked with human TF were measured using a chromogenic assay.This assay is based on binding of TF to factor VIIa and the ability ofTF/VIIa complex to activate factor X (FX). The TF activity wasquantified indirectly by the amount of FXa produced. The FXa producedwas measured kinetically according to the release of para-nitroamiline(pNA) from a FXa specific chromogenic peptide substrate as an increaseof absorbance at 405 nm. The TF activity was determined against acommercial water soluble recombinant TF standard (R&D systems Corp.).The chromogenic TF activity assay was based on the procedure reported byPhilipp et al., See Philipp J, Dienst A, Unruh Maike, et al. “Solubletissue factor induces coagulation on tumor endothelial cells in vivo ifcoadministered with low-dose lipopolysaccharides” Arterioscler ThrombVasc Biol.; 23:905-910 (2003)

Hep3B HCC Xenograft Model in SCID Mice

Hep3B is a human HCC cell line. In order to demonstrate the therapeuticeffectiveness of anti-PLVAP Fab-TF, we establish a HEP3B xenograft modelin BALB/c C.B-17 SCID mice. Hep3B HCC xenograft was established bysubcutaneous injection of 4 million Hep3B cells into right upper innerthigh of a 5 weeks old male C.B-17 SCID mouse under general anesthesiawith inhalation of isoflurane. The cells were suspended in 60 μl of icecold 75% BD MATRIGEL™ (BD Bioscience Corp.) dissolved in Dulbecco'smodified eagle medium (DMEM) (Life Technologies Corp.) without serum.Injection was carried out by using a 29 gauge insulin syringe.

Hep3 B cells used for injection were cultured in DMEM containing 10%fetal bovine serum, 1% GLUTA-MAX™ media, 1% antibiotics-antimycotics,and 1% HEPES. All reagents were purchased from Life Technologies. Thecells for injection were harvested when they reached 80% confluency. Thecells were lifted from the culture flask using trypsin-EDTA solutionfrom Life Technologies according to the instruction of the manufacturer,and tumor cells were washed once with DMEM before suspending in ice cold75% BD MATRIGEL™ matrix for injection. After injection, mice werefollowed regularly for growth of tumor xenograft. Normally, it took fiveto six weeks for tumors to become ready for the study.

Infusion of Anti-PLVAP Fab-TF into Tumor Feeding Artery

For treatment of Hep3B tumor xenograft with anti-PLVAP MECA32-Fab-TF, amouse carrying Hep3B tumor xenograft was anesthetized with inhalation ofisoflurane using a MATRX™ anesthesia machine. The mouse was laid insupine position under a dissecting microscope. The hair over the rightinguinal area was removed with Nair hair remover (Church & Dwight Co.) aday before infusion. After cleansing the skin with 75% alcohol, a 0.5 cmincision was made at the right inguinal area above tumor. The wound wasdeepened to expose right femoral artery and vein. Right femoral arterywas then looped with a 6-0 nylon thread. The artery was gently retractedproximally. An arteriotomy was done with a micro-scissor distal to theretraction and a fine 33 gauge needle was inserted into the distal side.MECA32-Fab-TF or control antibody was infused slowly at a rate about 40μl per minute. Injection was performed under close observation to ensurethat there was no leakage. After infusion, the needle was withdrawn. Thearteriotomy site was sealed with Histoacryl (TissueSeal, AnnArbor,Mich.). The nylon for retraction was removed. After confirmation ofadequate hemostasis, the incision wound was closed with continuoussuture.

3D Sonography and Power Doppler for Measurement of Tumor Volume andBlood Flow

Vevo 2100 High-Resolution Imaging System (Visual Sonics, Inc., Toronto,Canada) was used to acquire 3D tumor image according to the instructionof the manufacturer. Three perpendicular dimensions of the tumor weredetermined by taking the following measurements. Two perpendiculardimensions on the largest cross section area along tumor X and Y axeswere measure first. The longest dimension along Z axis perpendicular toX and Y dimensions were then determined using the software provided bythe vendor. Tumor volume was determined using the following formula forelliptical object: Volume=λ/6×length×width×height. Tumor blood flowimages were captured using 3D power Doppler according to the manual fora Vevo 2100 High-Resolution Imaging System.

Measurement of Binding Affinities of MECA32-Fab-TF and CSRO2-Fab-TF

The assay used to determine binding affinity between anti-PLVAP-Fab-TFand target PLVAP was based on a chromogenic TF activity assay asdescribed in the earlier section. Briefly, each well of an ELISA platewas coated with 2.5 m/ml water soluble recombinant human or mouse PLVAPovernight. After washings and blocking as described for the ELISA tostudy CSRO2-Fab-TF and MECA32-Fab-TF binding to PLVAP, wells coated withhuman or mouse PLVAP protein were incubated with 50 μl of increasingconcentrations of CSRO2-Fab-TF or MECA32-Fab-TF at 0.3125, 0.625, 1.25,2.5, 5 and 10 μg/ml in duplicates. After incubation for 3 hours at roomtemperature, wells were washed and assayed for amounts of TF activitybound in wells using a TF standard curve as described in the earliersection for the chromogenic TF activity assay. The concentration oftotal CSRO2-Fab-TF or MECA32-Fab-TF added in each well was known and theconcentration of bound CSRO2-Fab-TF or MECA32-Fab-TF in each well couldbe calculated from the assay results. These numbers were then analyzedusing Scatchard plot analysis to determine the binding affinity ofCSRO2-Fab-TF or MECA32-Fab-TF. See, e.g., Scatchard G. “The attractionsof proteins for small molecules and ions” Ann NY Acad Sci. 51:660-672(1949).

Immunohistochemical (IHC) Staining of PLVAP in HEP3B Tumor XenograftUsing MECA32 Anti-PLVAP Monoclonal Antibodies

To study expression of PLVAP in mouse Hep3B xenograft, sections offormalin fixed paraffin tissue block were processed forimmunohistochemical staining by anti-PLVAP monoclonal antibodies. Afterde-paraffinization and rehydration of tissue sections following routineprocedures, slides with tissue sections in a carrier were placed in abeaker and immersed in Target Retrieval Solution (Dako, Inc.Carpinteria, Calif.). The beaker was placed in an autoclave and heatedat 121° C. for 10 minutes. After cooling, the slides were transferredinto distilled water. The section on each slide was then treated with200-400μl hydrogen peroxide in Ventana iView DAB Detection kit (VentanaMedical Systems, Inc.) to quench endogenous peroxidase. After rinsingslides with Tris-buffered saline (TBS) (Dako), Sections were incubatedwith 5 μg MECA32 anti-PLVAP monoclonal antibodies diluted in TBScontaining 0.1% bovine serum albumin (TBS-BSA) with at 37° C. for 60minutes. After washing by submerging slides in TBS buffers for 5 minutesthree times, the sections were incubated with a biotinylated secondaryantibody (e.g., biotinylated sheep anti-rat IgG for MECA32 mAb) at adilution recommended by the vendor at room temperature for 15 minutes.The sections on slides were washed similarly as described above. Thesections on slides were incubated with freshly prepared DAB substrate inthe kit for 30 minutes. The slides were rinsed with distilled water afew times. After counter stain with Gill's hematoxylin solution for 15seconds, the slides were rinsed with TBS followed with distilled water.After air-drying sections, the sections were covered with Permountmedium and cover slips.

Results PLVAP Expression in HCC and HEP3B Xenograft

Our earlier study showed that PLVAP is differentially expressed onvascular endothelial cells of HCC and not in vascular endothelial cellsof non-tumorous liver tissue. The differential expression of PLVAPoffered an opportunity to target HCC for therapeutic purpose. Weconceived a novel approach of using anti-PLVAP monoclonal antibody orits Fab fragment serve as a carrier for a co-expressed blood coagulationtriggering tissue factor protein for treatment of HCC. Infusion of sucha therapeutic agent into tumor feeding artery was believed to result inbinding of this therapeutic antibody or its Fab fragment to vascularendothelial cells of HCC, trigger blood clot formation in tumor bloodvessels and lead to ischemic necrosis of tumor.

To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, we established a humanHCC xenograft model in SCID mice using HEP3B HCC cell line. We thendetermined whether vascular endothelial cells grew into HEP3B tumorxenograft expressed mouse PLVAP by immuno-histochemical (IHC) stainingusing MECA32 anti-mouse PLVAP mAb. As shown in FIG. 6B, vascularendothelial cells of HEP3B tumor xenograft in SCID mice indeed expressedPLVAP like human HCC. Therefore, HEP3B xenograft could be used for thestudy to demonstrate anti-tumor effect of anti-PLVAP mAb or its Fabfragment conjugated with human tissue factor.

Effect of MECA32 mAb Conjugated with Soluble Human TF on HEP3 BXenograft

First, we treated SCID mice carrying HEP3B xenograft tumors with MECA32mAb chemically conjugated with recombinant water soluble human tissuefactor (MECA32-TF). Human TF was used, because human TF is effective totrigger blood coagulation in both human and mice and cDNA of human TFwas commercially available. Each tumor-bearing mouse was treated byinfusion of 24 μg MECA32-TF (treatment group) or 20 μg MECA32 mAb(control group) in 100 μl of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) into atumor feeding right femoral artery under dissecting microscope. Theslightly less amount of MECA32 mAb (20 μg) was used to adjust for highermolecular weight of MECA32-TF. 3D power Doppler was used to assess tumorblood flow 48 hours before and after treatment. The results showedsignificant reduction of intra-tumor blood flow signals after treatmentwith MECA32-TF in the treatment group and not in the control group (FIG.7). Follow up of tumor growth showed significant suppression of tumorgrowth in the MECA32-TF treatment group and not in the control group(FIG. 8). The results of this study support that anti-PLVAP monoclonalantibody conjugated with human TF was effective for treatment of HCCxenografts.

Development and Characterization of MECA32-Fab-TF

For chemical conjugation of TF to MECA32 mAb, it was difficult toconsistently and reproducibly control the numbers and the sites of TFprotein molecules cross-linked to MECA32 mAb. MECA32-TF prepared bychemical cross-linking did not yield homogeneous product. The highmolecular weight of MECA32-TF conjugate (approximately 170 kDa) alsoleads to long circulation half-life with increased chance of causingadverse side effects.

In order to have a structurally well defined homogeneous therapeuticbiologic with shorter half-life to limit off-target side effects, wedeveloped a novel recombinant protein that consisted of Fab portion ofanti-PLVAP mAb and extracellular domain of human tissue factor linked tothe carboxyl end of the heavy chain constant domain 1. We then producedan anti-murine PLVAP MECA32-Fab-TF recombinant protein (MECA32-Fab-TF).A diagram depicting the structure of this recombinant protein is shownin FIG. 9.

Purified MECA32-Fab-TF was used to compete with biotinylated MECA32 mAbfor binding to mouse PLVAP. These results indicated that MECA32-Fab-TFindeed retained its ability to bind to PLVAP (FIG. 10). Scatchardanalyses of six different batches of MECA-32-Fab-TF also showed highbinding affinity to mouse PLVAP with Kd of 5.7±1.4×10⁻⁸M. The TF linkedat the carboxyl terminus of MECA32 Fd was also functional and couldinteract with factor VIIa to activate factor X. The measured tissuefactor specific activity was 90±22 μg (n=6) in each milligram ofMECA32-Fab-TF.

Effect of MECA32-Fab-TF on HEP3B Tumor Xenograft in SCID Mice

To demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of recombinant MECA32-Fab-TF, wefirst conducted two dose response studies. For both studies,MECA32-Fab-TF was infused into a tumor feeding femoral artery.Seventy-two hours after treatment, the treated mice were sacrificed andtumors were harvested for histological examination. For the first study,three different doses of MECA32-Fab-TF (3 μg, 6 μg and 12 μg) were usedto treat tumor-bearing mice and the control group was treated with 12 μgMECA32 monoclonal antibody without tissue factor. There were three micefor each dose. For the second study, the doses of MECA32-Fab-TF usedwere 2.5 μg, 5 μg and 10 μg. There were two mice at each dose. Theresults of these two studies were summarized and shown in FIGS. 11 and12. The results of these studies revealed that tumors from the micetreated with MECA32-Fab-TF developed massive ischemic necrosis at alldoses. However, the dose of 10 μg or higher yielded more consistentresults. No or minimal tumor necrosis was noted in the control groups.The results of these studies demonstrated that anti-PLVAP-Fab-TF wasquite potent and could induce significant ischemic tumor necrosis as lowas 2.5 μg per mouse within 72 hours.

Effect of Anti-mPLVAP MECA32-Fab-TF on Histology of HEP3B TumorXenografts at Different Time Points after Infusion

The studies described above indicated that tumor developed frankischemic necrosis 72 hour after treatment. In order to learn hownecrosis was induced after treatment with anti-mPLVAP Fab coexpressingTF, we infused MECA32-Fab-TF into tumor feeding artery and harvestedHEP3B tumors at 2 hours, 4 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours afterinfusion after infusion of 10 μg MECA32-Fab-TF. There were twotumor-bearing mice at each time point. Two mice without treatment werealso sacrificed on the same day of this experiment as 0 hour base-linecontrols.

As shown in FIG. 13A, our results revealed that fibrin thrombi in tumorblood vessels could be found at 2 hours after treatment. The number ofblood vessels containing fibrin thrombi became more evident at 4 hoursand 24 hours after treatment. Tumor cells began to separate from eachother with increased clear space at 4 hours and this change became moreapparent at 24 hours (FIG. 13B). Frank ischemic necrosis with loss ofnuclear staining was noted at 48 hours after treatment and became morepronounced at 72 hours (FIGS. 13A and 13B). No fibrin thrombi were notedin tumor blood vessels before treatment (0 hour) (FIG. 13A). PowerDoppler study also revealed cessation of blood flow in major tumor bloodvessels at 2 hours after infusion and lasted to 72 hours (FIG. 14).These findings support that anti-PLVAP-Fab-TF indeed could bind to PLVAPof tumor vascular endothelial cells, induced blood clot formation intumor blood vessels, created blockage of blood flow and caused tumornecrosis.

Effect of Anti-PLVAP MECA32-Fab-TF on Growth of HEP3B Tumor Xenografts

Next, we studied the therapeutic effect of anti-PLVAP Fab-TF treatmenton tumor growth. Two different studies were conducted. The first studywas to follow tumor growth for 25 days after treatment. The study wasterminated 25 days after treatment, because the large sizes of tumors inthe control group necessitated the stop of the study. Tumor sizes werefollowed using 3D-sonography. The results summarized in FIGS., 15, 16Aand 16B showed that single infusion of 5 μg or 10 μg of MECA32-Fab-TFeffectively suppressed the tumor growth but not by 10 μg control MECA32antibody without TF.

For the second study, SCID mice bearing HEP3B tumor xenografts weretreated with intra-arterial infusion of 10 μg MECA32-Fab-TF (n=4) or 10μg MECA32 monoclonal antibody (n=2). Tumor growth was followed with 3Dsonography. When HEP3B tumors grew to approximately 2000 cubicmillimeter, tumor-bearing mice were euthanized. This study allowed us toassess the delay of tumor growth in the treatment group. The resultssummarized in FIG. 17 showed that there was a significant delay of tumorgrowth after single infusion of 10 MECA32-Fab-TF into the tumor-feedingartery. It took 42 more days for the tumor in the treatment group togrow to 1600 mm³ comparing to the control mice. The average days fortumors to grow to 1600 mm³ between the control and the treatment groupswere 9.8±3.0 days and 51.8±3.2 days, respectively (FIG. 17).

In summary, the results of these two different studies further supportedthat infusion of anti-PLVAP-Fab-TF into tumor feeding artery waseffective to induce tumor necrosis and control tumor growth.

Effect of Systemic Administration of Anti-PLVAP-Fab-TF on Tumor Growth

In order to know whether systemic administration of MECA32-Fab-TFthrough a peripheral vein can also achieve the same therapeutic effector not, we injected 10 μg or 20 μg of MECA32-Fab-TF into a tail vein ofSCID mouse bearing HEP3B tumor xenograft and monitored tumor growthafter injection. Control mice were injected with phosphate bufferedsaline. There were three mice in each treatment group. The resultssummarized in FIG. 17 showed that there was no statistically significanteffect on tumor volume when MECA32-Fab-TF was administered through atail vein. Therefore, infusion of anti-PLVAP MECA32-Fab-TF into a tumorfeeding artery was necessary to induce tumor necrosis and achievetherapeutic effect. It is possible that systemic administration ofMECA32-Fab-TF resulted in dilution of the injected MECA32-Fab-TF andbinding of MECA32-Fab-TF to PLVAP on vascular endothelial cells of otherorgans (e.g., lungs, kidneys and gastrointestinal organs) beforereaching to tumor blood vessels.

Development and Characterization of Anti-Human PLVAP Fab-TF

In order to know whether a similar therapeutic agent could be developedagainst human PLVAP, a humanized anti-human PLVAP monoclonal antibodyagainst an antigenic epitope residing in the amino acid sequence ofPPAGIPVAPSSG (SEQ ID NO: 25) at the carboxyl terminus of human PLVAP wasused. This humanized anti-human PLVAP monoclonal antibody was developedpreviously and is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.US20110262349 A1. This anti-human PLVAP-Fab-TF conjugate was designatedas CSRO2-Fab-TF (FIG. 9). We then conducted a series of studies tocompare CSRO2-Fab-TF with MECA32-Fab-TF in terms of tissue factorspecific activity and binding affinity to target PLVAP. The results ofour studies showed that anti-human PLVAP CSRO2-Fab-TF appeared to havehigher TF activity in each milligram of anti-PLVAP Fab-TF comparing toanti-mouse PLVAP MECA32-Fab-TF and both CSRO2-Fab-TF and MECA32-Fab-TFhad similar binding affinities (Table 1). The findings indicated thatCSRO2-Fab-TF like MECA32-Fab-TF could bind to their PLVAP targets withsufficient affinity and carried sufficient TF activity to initiate bloodcoagulation to achieve a therapeutic effect.

TABLE 1 Comparison of tissue factor (TF) specific activity on eachmilligram of anti-PLVAP Fab-TF and binding affinity to PLVAP betweenanti-human PLVAP CSRO2- Fab-TF and anti-mouse PLVAP MECA32-Fab-TF.Tissue factor specific activity No. of (μg/mg) Kd (M) batches mean ± SDmean ± SD CSR02-Fab-TF 3 156 ± 16  3.07 ± 1.25 × 10−8 MECA32-Fab-TF 6 90± 22 5.72 ± 1.40 × 10−8

As summarized in Table 1, three different batches of CSRO2-Fab-TF andsix different batches of MECA32-Fab-TF were studied. Results indicatedthat both Fab-TF had similar binding affinities. Nevertheless,CSRO2-Fab-TF had higher specific TF activity than MECA32-Fab-TF. Theresults indicate that CSRO2-Fab-TF has sufficient binding affinity andtissue factor specific activity to achieve therapeutic effect likeMECA32-Fab-TF for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Based on the average tumor volume at the time of treatment and the dosesof MECA32-Fab-TF required to effectively induce tumor necrosis in ourHep3B xenograft model, we estimated that the effective therapeutic dosefor anti-PLVAP-Fab-TF to treat HCC by infusion into tumor feeding arteryis between 15 μg to 100 μg for each milliliter (cubic centimeter) oftumor.

To further demonstrate that the developed CSRO2-Fab-TF can bind tovascular endothelial cells of human HCC, we biotinylated CSRO2-Fab-TFand used this Fab-TF to study its binding to vascular endothelial cellsof human HCC. The results of our studies showed that biotinylatedCSRO2-Fab-TF indeed bound to vascular endothelial cells of HCC and notto vascular endothelial cells of non-tumorous liver tissue (FIG. 18).The results of this study supported that CSRO2-Fab-TF like MECA32-Fab-TFcould be used for treatment of HCC in patients through infusion intotumor feeding artery(ies).

Based on the knowledge that PLVAP is differentially expressed in bloodvessels of HCC and not in those of non-tumorous liver tissues, we havedeveloped a novel therapeutic agent for treatment of HCC byco-expressing human tissue factor protein on anti-PLVAP monoclonalantibody or its Fab fragment. We showed that both whole antibody and itsFab fragment carrying soluble extracellular domain of human tissuefactor indeed could induce tumor necrosis and suppressed tumor growthafter single infusion into a tumor feeding artery.

Because chemical conjugation of soluble tissue factor to anti-PLVAPantibody could not reproducibly control the same number of tissue factorcross-linked to each antibody at the same sites, we therefore created arecombinant Fab fragment of anti-PLVAP monoclonal antibody with carboxylterminus of Fd chain co-expressing extracellular domain of human tissuefactor and used this recombinant protein as a therapeutic agent fortreatment of HCC. To demonstrate that such a therapeutic agent indeedcould be used for treatment of HCC, SCID mice bearing tumor derived fromHEP3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line were first establishedand used for the proof-of-concept study. We then developed a mouseversion of anti-PLVAP-Fab-TF using MECA32 anti-mouse PLVAP hybridoma. Itwas necessary to develop a mouse version of anti-PLVAP-Fab-TF, becauseblood vessels growing into human HCC xenograft are derived from mice andexpress mouse PLVAP. We expressed human tissue factor on both human andmouse versions of anti-PLVAP Fab-TF, because human tissue factor canactivate mouse coagulation factor VII and induce blood coagulation inmice. Our comparative study between CSRO2-Fab-TF and MECA32-Fab-TFconfirmed that they both can bind to their PLVAP targets with sufficientaffinity and carry sufficient tissue factor activity to trigger bloodcoagulation and achieve therapeutic effect.

The results of our studies demonstrated that the recombinantanti-PLVAP-Fab-TF developed by us had therapeutic effect for treatmentof HCC through triggering blood clot formation in tumor blood vessels,blocking tumor flow and inducing tumor necrosis following infusion ofthis novel therapeutic agent directly into a tumor feeding artery, butnot by systemic intravenous administration through a peripheral vein.The studies described in this application also support that anti-humanPLVAP monoclonal antibody or its Fab fragment co-expressing tissuefactor protein could be used to treat tumors showing expression of PLVAPrestricted to tumor blood vessels, such as glioblastoma.

It should be understood that for all numerical bounds describing someparameter in this application, such as “about,” “at least,” “less than,”and “more than,” the description also necessarily encompasses any rangebounded by the recited values. Accordingly, for example, the descriptionat least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 also describes, inter alia, the ranges 1-2,1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 3-4, 3-5, and 4-5, et cetera.

For all patents, applications, or other reference cited herein, such asnon-patent literature and reference sequence information, it should beunderstood that it is incorporated by reference in its entirety for allpurposes as well as for the proposition that is recited. Where anyconflict exits between a document incorporated by reference and thepresent application, this application will control. All informationassociated with reference gene sequences disclosed in this application,such as GeneIDs or accession numbers (typically referencing NCBIaccession numbers), including, for example, genomic loci, genomicsequences, functional annotations, allelic variants, and reference mRNA(including, e.g., exon boundaries or response elements) and proteinsequences (such as conserved domain structures, Homologene entries, etcetera) as well as chemical references (e.g., Pub Chem compound, PubChem substance, or Pub Chem Bioassay entries, including the annotationstherein, such as structures and assays, et cetera) are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

Headings used in this application are for convenience only and do notaffect the interpretation of this application.

Preferred features of each of the aspects provided by the invention areapplicable to all of the other aspects of the invention mutatis mutandisand, without limitation, are exemplified by the dependent claims andalso encompass combinations and permutations of individual features(e.g., elements, including numerical ranges and exemplary embodiments)of particular embodiments and aspects of the invention including theworking examples. For example, particular experimental parametersexemplified in the working examples can be adapted for use in theclaimed invention piecemeal without departing from the invention. Forexample, for materials that are disclosed, while specific reference ofeach various individual and collective combinations and permutation ofthese compounds may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specificallycontemplated and described herein. Thus, if a class of elements A, B,and C are disclosed as well as a class of elements D, E, and F and anexample of a combination of elements, A-D is disclosed, then even ifeach is not individually recited, each is individually and collectivelycontemplated. Thus, in this example, each of the combinations A-E, A-F,B-D, B-E, B-F, C-D, C-E, and C-F are specifically contemplated andshould be considered disclosed from disclosure of A, B, and C; D, E, andF; and the example combination A-D. Likewise, any subset or combinationof these is also specifically contemplated and disclosed. Thus, forexample, the sub-group of A-E, B-F, and C-E are specificallycontemplated and should be considered disclosed from disclosure of A, B,and C; D, E, and F; and the example combination A-D. This conceptapplies to all aspects of this application including, elements of acomposition of matter and steps of method of making or using thecompositions.

The foregoing aspects of the invention, as recognized by the personhaving ordinary skill in the art following the teachings of thespecification, can be claimed in any combination or permutation to theextent that they are novel and non-obvious over the prior art—thus tothe extent an element is described in one or more references known tothe person having ordinary skill in the art, they may be excluded fromthe claimed invention by, inter alia, a negative proviso or disclaimerof the feature or combination of features.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the inventionencompassed by the appended claims.

1. A nucleic acid encoding a conjugate comprising a coagulating agentconjugated to an antibody that binds an extracellular domain epitope ofhuman PLVAP.
 2. The nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the antibodycomprises: a) complementarity determining regions (CDR) 1-3 of the heavychain variable region (HCVR) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 3, and CDRs 1-3 of the light chain variable region (LCVR)comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; or b) CDRs 1-3 ofthe HCVR comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, and CDRs1-3 of the LCVR comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 6. 3.The nucleic acid of claim 2, wherein the antibody comprises a LCVRcomprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and a HCVR comprisingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 3. 4. The nucleic acid of claim 3,wherein the LCVR, or HCVR, or both, are humanized.
 5. The nucleic acidof claim 4, wherein the LCVR and HCVR comprise: a) a HCVR sequenceselected from SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11; and a LCVR sequenceselected from SEQ ID NO: 12, 13, or 14; or b) a HCVR sequence selectedfrom SEQ ID NO: 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19; and a LCVR sequence selected fromSEQ ID NO: 20, 21, or
 22. 6. The nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein thecoagulating agent is a tissue factor (TF) having the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO:
 1. 7. The nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the conjugatecomprises an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:23.
 8. The nucleic acid of claim 5, wherein the HCVR sequence comprisesSEQ ID NO: 11 and the LCVR sequence comprises SEQ ID NO: 13; or the HCVRsequence comprises SEQ ID NO: 19 and the LCVR sequence comprises SEQ IDNO:
 22. 9. A vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim
 1. 10. A hostcell comprising the nucleic acid of claim
 1. 11. The host cell of claim10, wherein the nucleic acid is included in a vector.
 12. The host cellof claim 10, wherein the host cell is a bacterial cell.
 13. The hostcell of claim 12, wherein the bacterial cell is Escherichia coli. 14.The host cell of claim 10, wherein the cell is a eukaryotic cellselected from a fungus, an insect cell, or a mammalian cell.
 15. Thehost cell of claim 14, wherein the fungus is yeast.
 16. The host cell ofclaim 14, wherein the insect cell is any one or more of Sf0 cell, Sf21cell, or high five cell.
 17. The host cell of claim 14, wherein themammalian cell is any one or more of CHO cell, VERO cell, or COS cell.18. A method of making a conjugate comprising a coagulating agentconjugated to an antibody that binds an extracellular domain epitope ofhuman PLVAP, comprising culturing the host cell of claim 10 underconditions that support the expression of the conjugate by the host, andisolating the expressed conjugate.
 19. A method of treating HCC in ahuman subject in need thereof, comprising administering atherapeutically effective amount of a conjugate comprising a coagulatingagent conjugated to an antibody that binds an extracellular domainepitope of human PLVAP to the subject, wherein the conjugate is infuseddirectly into one or more tumor-feeding arteries.